Crescent wrench proper use

[pwd72s]

[LWJ]

This may be the single thing that I do correctly with hand tools.

[GH85Carrera]

I have a couple of Crescent wrenches, and they get very little use. Very little. I always prefer to use a regular wrench of the proper size. I can't remember ever using a crescent wrench on my vehicles.

I use them on a odd plumbing fixtures and I hate plumbing work.

[Bill Douglas]

I've been using it correctly ever since I broke one as a kid. It's not easy being Scottish and unnecessarily paying for things.

[jyl]

I didn’t understand this at first, now I think I do.

Suppose you are looking at the head of a nut and want to turn it clockwise, with an adjustable wrench with handle to the right of the nut, positioned to engage the upper and lower flats of the nut. The pressure points are the right corner of the upper flat and the left corner of the lower flat. These two corners - upper right and lower left - are the only part of the nut that matters. The line between them is a diagonal, from the inner end of the upper jaw of the wrench to the outer end of the lower jaw. When you turn the wrench clockwise, you are effectively trying to turn that diagonal. As you do so, the upper right corner of the nut is pressing up on the inner end of the upper jaw of the wrench, and the lower left corner is pressing down on the outer end of the lower jaw. With me so far?

The choice you have is, are you a) applying pressure on the inner end of the fixed jaw and the outer end of the adjustable jaw, or b) on the inner end of the adjustable jaw and the outer end of the fixed jaw?

The fixed jaw is beefy, it doesn’t care what end is getting pressure. So the choice boils down to a) applying pressure on the outer end of the adjustable jaw, or b) on the inner end of the adjustable jaw?

a) is the wrench held rightside up (adjustable jaw on bottom), while b) is the wrench held upside down (adjustable jaw on top). [EDITED]

If you choose a), the force is being applied on the outer end of the adjustable jaw, and the adjustable jaw is trying to rotate relative to the wrench, and the slider is getting jammed and thus taking some of the force.

If you choose b), the force is being applied on the inner end of the adjustable jaw, and the adjustable jaw is not trying to rotate, but rather is trying to slide, so the teeth and worm gear are taking all the force. Since the teeth and worm gear are not perfectly aligned, only one tooth and one spot on the worm gear are taking all the force - it is whichever tooth/gear spot have the tightest fit.

Seems to me the slider is stronger than one tooth/spot on worm gear - the slider is 1” long and beefier than the 1/8” contact of tooth and gear. So you want a) [EDITED]

[stevej37]

Why does Crescent always get the credit?

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Why does Crescent always get the credit?

I think they invented it. And are the bestest. Sure Japanese make nice ones but who cares.

[MBAtarga]

He did a lousy job of showing/explaining the orientation to use. He should have the camera focused down with a nut laying on a surface and just show the wrench with the correct orientation for use when tightening and another when loosening the hardware.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I think they invented it. And are the bestest. Sure Japanese make nice ones but who cares.

My 'Great Value' adjustable wrench will do the job.

I also use these...

[oldE]

I have a mid-sized one I keep in the tool box on the tractor. If I have to work on the electric fence, it is perfect for dealing with the low torque values of the copper split bolts which can be of two sizes, as the company changed their bolts a decade or so ago.
I also had a mni sized one I used to adjust the workings of the cutaway model of the tidal power plant when I worked there.

Best
Les

[fastfredracing]

I hope I am using the hammer function correctly

[look 171]

I just used it yesterday, properly of course. Just like Freddy, the hammer function was used to sink a course thread screw into the side of someone's fine finish cabinet work. Hell, its soft wood so it went in with ease using the proper side, side way. Create a little dome with putty to hide the half sunken hex head, a 'lil paint, no one will ever noticed.

[herr_oberst]

A pair of Knipex cobra pliers have completely eliminated the need to use an adjustable wrench in most situations, at least in my life.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

A pair of Knipex cobra pliers have completely eliminated the need to use an adjustable wrench in most situations, at least in my life.

I have a couple these Knipex around the house and the shop for quick, simple work when I have to deal with nuts and bolts. It takes a little getting use to, but after a few times its works wonders. I almost threw out my crescent wrenchs or simply use them as they are intended, hammers. Forget turning that screw with your greasy thumb and index finger.

https://www.amazon.com/KNIPEX-87-41-250-RAP/dp/B000X4PUCQ/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2UVEB2IG4Z47T&keywords=knipex%2Bnut%2Bwrench&qid=1704494915&s=hi&sprefix=knipex%2Bnut%2Bwrench%2Ctools%2C146&sr=1-8&th=1

[G50]

Originally Posted by LWJ

This may be the single thing that I do correctly with hand tools.

Haha,mme too. As my numerous bent and broken screwdrivers will tell you.

For the crescent, it’s always seemed like common sense to me since I was taking the wheels off my Schwinn as a 10 year old. Always have done it that way.

[Scott Douglas]

My Crescent wrenches have always doubled as micrometers.
Some of them are older than I am as they were my dad's.

[Zeke]

I have a dozen adjustable wrenches. Don't leave home without one is my thought. Well, you might need a knife and a screwdriver.

But seriously just hacking around with an lawn mower or cheap bike, if I can have 2 adjustable wrenches there and do most of the work, why not?

I do use them correctly but I've used them carelessly backwards and have never broken even a cheap one. If the nut/bolt is that tough, I'll go get a sized wrench.

[Turbo_pro]

After reading some of the responses, my immediate thought was to go all PARFY and suggest that young people were taught about the identity of the wrench and ignored the proper use........

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I hope I am using the hammer function correctly

I actually witnessed someone using a hammer wrongly.

Ish it you not.

The person was holding the instrument at approximately mid handle and thrusting it toward the nail. It may have been a screw, though.

I also saw a person loading a paint roller by dipping it into a can of paint.

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Why does Crescent always get the credit?

I don't know but I think Pillsbury deserves some of the credit for those rolls.

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